Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:26 pm

A moment after Ewith stopped petting her, Misty looked up at her. Seeing that no more scritches were forthcoming, she took off after Bereth.

"Misty can help!" she said loudly as she followed the half-elf. "Bird girl like Misty...but bigger chest!"

That got a few giggles from bystanders who heard her.

"Master Brand is going to love that!" someone said just loud enough for Ewith to hear.

Viconia sat down in the throne and closed her eyes. A moment later she opened them in shock. She contemplated what to do for several moments before activating the "General Announcements" spells her master had placed on it.

"Attention everyone," she said, her voice echoing calmly down the halls. "Due to a sudden approaching storm the valley, we are restricting everyone to the lair. In addition...there will be a special treat tonight after dinner. Cherry cobbler."

Bereth and Misty immediately returned. Bereth had her staff in hand.

"You need to come with me," she said to Ewith in a low voice. "Calmly. Viconia just asked all the combat-trained to assemble in the throne room."
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Wed Feb 13, 2019 4:18 pm

That announcement included a secret message? ...Well, cherries were red, so it wouldn't be a stretch to attach a meaning of violence and blood on top of all their other meanings.

"..OK then," she responded after a few seconds. An important gathering like that would take priority over her guard duty. Although, when Viconia said everyone was restricted to "the lair" (and she'd been under the impression that the lockdown started hours ago), was there a chance that meant just the parts in which a dragon was expected to be in? No, that was just silly.

"Looks like we're out of time. Perhaps I should have been paying more attention to my windows," she mumbled.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Fri Feb 15, 2019 1:10 pm

A little over a dozen women were in the throne room with the small dark elf resting on the throne itself. She looked up as Bereth, Misty, an Ewith came in. Ewith noticed that Erin stood among the gathered.

"A storm is coming," Viconia said as she stood up. "Not a natural one. And there is some sort of gathering taking place along the river. Peasant folk, mostly, but there are a few fighting types among them. Worse, there is an energy gathering there, increasing as more people arrive. We cannot wait for our Master now, though he is on his way to us. This gathering must be disrupted immediately."

"What sort of magic?" someone asked.

"Conjuration," Viconia said flatly. "At the rate it is gathering we only have a limited time. We must take action immediately."
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Fri Feb 15, 2019 3:24 pm

So, they were summoning forth the Shadow. Or perhaps an elite minion, but it was practically the same at this point.

"What's the best way to disrupt the conjuration?" Ewith asked bluntly. If they were dealing with masses of brainwashed people... she shuddered. Even so, they couldn't afford to let it loose.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:22 am

Viconia’s face was grim.

“The most direct way is to disperse or eliminate the people doing the summons,” she said bluntly. “I believe that most of them could be made to flee fairly easily but at least some will certainly resist. If this thing is influencing them the way I think they are, then they are probably deluded, relatively innocent people. The force calling them uses deception, but that also works against it. It won’t get as much power from them as it might from informed believers, so it will need a lot of people supporting it to call it properly.

“To sum it up,” the dark elf said. “Our objective is to drive away as many of these people as we can. Hopefully a strong display will chase them away but it is likely that there will be a real fight...and that’s only the human element. There are darker things present as well, and they will defend the summoners to the death. Bereth will lead the fighters in hot and run attacks while our mages will first deal with the nonhuman defenders and then move on to dispersing the crowd. Celeste will be in charge of the spellcasters. I will coordinate with you as best I can to keep everyone together.

“If the worst happens then we will fall back and slow down the enemy as best we can until we reach the lair. Here we will try to hold out until our master arrives. Are there any questions?”
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:06 pm

...Considering how this entity worked, and that they were storming a ritual site, it seemed like killing the enemy might count as sacrificing them to the Shadow. That also was not something any of them wanted.

"How is everyone with bad weather?" Ewith asked, brightening a bit as she thought of something. Improvising some of that might be the best use of her own magic.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:49 pm

Bereth shrugged.

“I don’t mind getting a little wet,” she said.

“I can enhance any effect you come up with,” Celeste added. “What did you have in mind?”
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Sat Feb 16, 2019 8:12 pm

"I was thinking of a wind or hailstorm," Ewith explains, "Depends on whether we hope to push them out of the battle site, or batter them unconscious."

"And, keeping the desired intensity would mean a lot of fine control - especially if you'll be in the line of fire. I could limit it to particular areas."
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Sun Feb 17, 2019 12:15 pm

"I believe I could add sufficient lightning and thunder effects to disorient them," Celeste added, nodding her head.

"That takes a great deal of effort and energy," Viconia said seriously. "But I like it. As long as you think you can handle it, then perhaps you should lead with that. But don't let yourself get drained too easily."

"I'll have her back," Celeste said. She moved her arm a bit and a short blade slid down her sleeve into her hand. "No one will get near her."

"Start mild and increase your storm if you need to," Viconia said. "Pace yourself carefully. Bereth?"

"We'll use the storm as cover to go in and start shoving them around," the half-elf said. "If they're just a disorganized mob, a simple wedge formation should break them apart nicely."
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Sun Feb 17, 2019 3:31 pm

"Those additions sound good," Ewith smiled, "Shall we head out, then?"

There was still so much about this situation she didn't know, but this seemed like the right approach to dealing with it.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:16 pm

The women changed quickly out of their skimpy clothing and into more practical clothing and armor for the warriors. Robes woven from strong spider silk were passed out among the mages.

Erin put on an array of jewelry that Ewith could immediately tell were enchanted. She also armed herself with a pair of wands and a staff. She might not be confident about her ability to cast but she could still wield the equipment. Ewith was given a pair of bracelets that she could feel were charged with electrical power, and a tiara with a gemstone that she was told would make her mana management easier.

“Let’s go, ladies,” Bereth said as she rapped her staff on the floor.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:33 pm

Ewith had to make a few quick modifications to the robes she was given, to keep them from getting in the way of her wings. However, she couldn't help smiling at the thought of returning to something like her old, adventuring lifestyle.

She had to be careful. She couldn't let herself be carried away again.

"I'm ready," Ewith responded, doing some quick finger exercises. If her estimates were correct, the tiara, plus the wire armlets she'd been given weeks ago would help stretch her mana reserves over the course of a full battle - so long as she didn't rely solely on the most powerful spells she could use.

---

Being able to fly made her one of the first to see the enemy hordes, and where they were gathering. Even before then, she could tell that the atmosphere had grown darker and more oppressive.
She had to make sure her weather-related spells remained under control...
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:22 am

The foul weather was already threatening to become a full fledged storm. Wind was blowing dark clouds in the sky. Ewith could see the gathering in the dim light. Dozens of people, mostly peasantry but from all walks of life, were gathered among the trees near a bend in the river that ran through the valley. In the trees among them were perched shapeless forms partly hidden by shadows emitting a mad, mindless piping sound. The men and scattered women were chanting madly in some alien tongue Ewith couldn’t make out. In the center of the crowd was an open space...an ordinary patch of grass much like any other. Ewith could feel the gathering energy there...prying at an unseen door.

“Yog sothoth is the way...Yog Sothoth is the key...Yog Sothoth is the path to eternity...”

Back in the lair, Viconia sat with her eyes closed as she watched over Ewith and the others as they moved in on the crowd. Her violet eyes opened and her lips parted.

“You might as well come out,” she said. “I know you’re here.”

A figure of near intangibility emerged from behind her, rising from her shadow. The being had a blade in its emaciated hand.

“Clever girl,” it whispered.

“An Assassin to eliminate the coordinator,” Viconia said calmly. “I’d have done the same thing once upon a time. Let’s get this over with. I have a lot to keep track of.”

The murderous wraith lunged forward at the dark elf, who met it with a suddenly produced blade of her own.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:39 pm

Ewith knew that she did not want to listen to the piping for long. Between that and the creature's name, what hold it had developed over her would be strengthened...

But she refused to forget who her enemies were. The plan would need to go on ahead, a bit ahead of schedule. She conjured up short bursts of powerful binds, that would knock the people gathered over and about - and when possible, away from the shapeless pipers in the trees. She alternated this with dropping hailstones on and around the trees, forming a pelting rhythm of her own. Perhaps she could risk using lightning against these creatures in particular?

And while her spells sowed chaos among the enemy, this would give the other girls an opportunity to strike as well...
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Wed Feb 27, 2019 4:52 am

A great deal of the chanting turned suddenly to yells of surprise and pain. More shouts of confusion sprang up. Some people seemed to snap out of whatever trance they were in and looked around in a list sort of way. Others, however, began to hand together and continue the chant.

The alien pipers broke off their strange songs, distracted by the heavy ice chunk that dropped around them. One of them screeched a warning and a few of the monstrous things actually lifted into the air.

Celeste clapped her hands and a deafening clap of thunder went off in the middle of the crowd, accompanied by a brilliant flash of light. For an instant everything was lit up by a blinding flash of light. Several of the dark creatures shrieked in pain at the sudden light while the humans below were dazzled.

Erin lifted her staff and three of the screaming monsters were engulfed in flames. More screams filled the air as other magic went off, blasting at the creatures hiding still among the trees.

That was when Bereth led her handful of troops into the edge of the mob. The wedge of fighters dove deeply into the mob, spreading even more confusion. Bereth herself sent a few of the braver resisters flying with her staff and a triumphant howl.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:08 pm

Some of the cultists seeming to come to their senses caused the avian mage to reorient her own. She... really didn't want to do something terrible she couldn't take back.

In the meantime, this was when she was supposed to hang back and provide covering fire for Bereth. However, it seemed that the dark pipers were coming after her now. She sent a few Air Cutters to keep them at bay, then left that role to Celeste again and returned to keeping the enemies around Bereth's group off balance with wind that wasn't so sharp. It would soon become more difficult to keep her magics from hindering or (more importantly) harming her allies, but for now she had the control to prevent that from happening.

Battle was inherently chaotic, though. There was no telling when some poor luck or minor error could be amplified into a disaster...
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:51 pm

As Ewith had feared, the fortunes of battle turned quickly. Many of the people in the crowd scattered, stopping their chants and fleeing for cover. The beasts in the trees immediately turned on them, leaping down to savage those who were trying to escape. Other members of the mob began to rally despite the pounding hail and the swirling chaos. Weapons were drawn and the defenders began to fight back against the women. The worshipers were still at a serious disadvantage with the wind and hail coming down on them and the light and sound of Celeste's illusions of lightning and thunder disorienting them, but the groups were starting to dig in and hold their positions. Despite the efforts of the attackers to keep the casualties down, the remaining cultists were determined to dish out their own damage.

Worse, the rite had already seemed to open some sort of dark crack in the grassy field. A crack that something on the other side was determined to widen.

* * *

Brand forced his way through the strong winds that had somehow arisen to hamper him. He was nearing his valley despite the resistance and pushed himself all the harder to get through the storm.
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:41 pm

Ewith, when she had spare moments, focused on sniping the beasts with wind attacks - cutting or blowing, depending on what else was in the line of fire - she did not want to let the creatures claim lives that could be saved. As she was doing this and maintaining the weather, she found herself losing altitude. There were several reasons for this - tactically better firing angles, being closer to her allies in case an emergency healing spell was called for, and being just plain tired of flying in this oppressive air.

And the enemy had successfully torn a hole in the world. Was this still something that might close on its own without the ritual continuing to support it?
She couldn't know that. The only way to figure that out would be to examine the area with magic sight - which would leave her vulnerable to whatever she saw, would require toning down her other spells, and might not provide any useful information. But if she didn't try, that was practically giving up on closing the rift...
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby Whitebrand » Thu Mar 28, 2019 1:23 am

(We're back! Finally!)

Ewith could almost sense the presence of the thing on the other side. Some sort of strange sensory organ was somehow perceiving her side of the rift. She could practically feel the thing "looking" her over.

Little mage, she could hear in her mind. Around her other people paused in mid action as the thing evidently addressed them as well. You dare to oppose the will of Thardazun?

A terrible flood of memory swamped into Ewith's mind, every failure and moment of pain seemed to boil up to the surface of her mind from her first skinned knee to her defeat by the silver dragon. All around her attackers and defenders alike cried out in horror as similar waves of memory overrode their senses.

Prepare to be devoured by the peace of oblivion...

A terrible rise of magical energy began to build as the thing drew on the life force of every living thing in the valley...
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Re: Calling Out the Dragon (Whitebrand and MasterGryph)

Postby MasterGryph » Fri Mar 29, 2019 6:23 am

Having every moment of pain in her life compressed and fed back to her at once sent the mage tumbling from the sky and grinding into the dirt while her mind tried to cope with the input. This fresh pain, if anything, would make it worse. Everything seemed to play back in an instant - the first time as a child when a poorly-crafted spell whipped back to harm her, the years of increasing loneliness her childhood friends drifting away from her, the mocking words of her classmates as she refused to join in with their game of toying with each other's hearts... then came the goodbye to her homes as the prophesy came and singled her out further, the long travels, the daily clashing with beasts and villains...

"Pain is... an inevitability in life," was this a thought or spoken aloud? Did it really matter? With this realization came another - her pain had just been doubled. So had that of everyone else present. And the longer one lived, the more it -

Whitebrand and Celeste! The longer lived beings would be even more vulnerable to such an attack! The elves as well! All those extra years to make enemies or suffer accidents in...! For all her isolation, a young prodigy like herself was the best bet her tribe had to oppose such a power!

The young avian picked herself up off the ground. Apparently, the impact hadn't left her too broken to stand.

"I do oppose you. If you can multiply the negativity in this world so, that's all the more reason to," She reached out with her spellweaving, the wires on her arms burning... If she could tap into the energy now flowing around them, it could be redirected to interfere with the portal. If she couldn't, then burning up the remains of her magic to call down a lightning strike on the portal might just do it!

"Failure is always a possibility. But it's not the purpose anyone sets out for. I'm here to fight. For everyone's sake!"
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